It has already been reported that the team has completed the recruitment of 15 basketball players.
“Last year our budget was 650,000 euros, of the 700,000 to 750,000 euros planned for spring, contracts for 80% of this amount have already been signed,” reveals the president of “Rīgas zeļļu” Edgars Buļs.
“We feel quite stable. Of course, there are still many good instruments for us to collect all 100% of the planned funds or even more, because many companies are still planning the next year’s budget,” explains Buļs.
In addition, the club is focused on attracting spectators. Last season, 20 percent of revenue came from ticket sales.
In case of budget overflow, the club will not rush to buy new players.
“I think that at least until the middle of the season there won’t be any big changes in the composition,” says Buļs.
“It can be said that at the moment our selection is closed and we are not looking for new players. We have got all of the ones we wanted,” says the club’s manager Artūrs Šenhoff.
He mentions that the 15-man roster is now better than expected in the spring.
This season, the team is formed with plans for a two- to three-year term, with the addition of several new players – Roland Schultz and Krister Skrind.
“We have done our work in the office, the next step is up to the coach. I can’t influence anything anymore,” says the manager.
“We have good players in certain elements of the game. It remains to put them together,” says head coach Juris Umbraško, adding that the young basketball players also contributed.
He promises a united team, a fight for every centimeter and progress towards the club’s goal.
“Last year we set the bar high and we are ready to go even higher,” says Umbraško.
This season, the team will not play in any of the European cups yet.
Būls reveals that even before the club’s first season, “Rīgas zeļli” was offered participation in the European Northern Basketball League (ENBL), and the offer was repeated even before this season. However, the club is not yet ready for additional expenses and an additional player load.
He emphasizes that, in his opinion, 50-55 games in a season are quite enough.
“Mostly we have young players. Any European Cup match is an additional physical and mental load. And, of course, also expenses,” says the club’s president, explaining that it has been agreed with the club’s manager and head coach that “everything should happen gradually.”
“First of all, participation in the European Cups is more expensive, but secondly, we have not given up the idea that we want to develop young players,” explains Schönhoff.
“We are balancing between results and development, and this year we will play, and I hope will play a lot, three players who have not yet reached the age of 20,” says the manager, adding that training is the main thing for young people.
“It is important for us to train local players. When they are ready, the team will also be ready to play in European cups by adding foreign players,” says Umbraško.
He reveals that “many” of the club’s players have buy-out options in their contracts.
If one of our players plays so well that they are interested in stronger championships and want to buy him, changes in the composition can happen,” says Umbraško, adding that the club will be proud to help basketball players achieve their individual goals as well.
It was also announced at the event that the second team of “Rīgas žeļļu” will be formed, but Andris Biedriņš is still the club’s messenger, and his role will probably increase in the future.
Contracts for the club for this season have been concluded with Ugis Pineti, Juri Vitola, Franci Lāci, Sigmar Raimo, Tomas Skuja, Dāvida Vīksna, Roberta Bērzyn, Krister Skrinda, Rolanda Schulc, Akveila Kota, Justin Makoy, Artūras Strēlnieka, Markus Mamaj, Dana Galdiņa and Krisha Helmani.
The team continues to be coached by Juris Umbraško, assisted by Dāvis Choders and Oskars Zurkovs.
On Saturday, “Rīgas zeļļi” will start their participation in the Baltic Super Cup, meeting with the Lithuanian team “Lietkabelis” of Panevėžys at 5 p.m. On Sunday, there will be a fight for first or third place.
“Optibet” Latvian-Estonian Basketball League (LIBL) team will start the season on September 21, at 18.30 in “Arena Rīga” by meeting the Latvian champions “VEF Rīga” basketball players.
Last season, playing the first season in the club’s history, “Rīgas zeļļi” reached the finals of the Latvian Basketball League (LBL), where they recognized the superiority of “VEF Rīga” in the series with 1-4. LIBL, ending the main tournament in sixth position, did not overcome the barrier of the quarterfinals.
2024-09-12 13:36:13